The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) issued a fresh order yesterday allowing the Election Commission (EC) to make changes to election constituencies and allowing political parties to conduct primary voting until the candidacy registration day.
Order No.16/2018 is intended to ensure fairness for political parties and eligible voters, according to the NCPO.
The order is a response to growing complaints from political parties and eligible voters.
They have complained that the redrawing of constituencies failed to take public input into account. They also said local poll offices may not comply with criteria in redrawing the constituencies.
To settled the matter, the NCPO ordered the EC to examine complaints, make changes to the constituencies where necessary, and ensure the demarcation process is legally compliant.
The NCPO said the new order would not affect the previously agreed timetable.
The EC is bound to announce the new constituencies before the organic law governing MP elections takes effect early next month.
The order came after the EC said early this week it had finished the demarcation of constituencies and the results would be published in the Royal Gazette.
The NCPO has given the EC more time to redraw the constituencies. It has also allowed parties to conduct primary voting until candidate applications begin.
Somkid Chuakhong, a Pheu Thai member and former MP for Ubon Ratchathani, questioned the motive behind the order.
"There is no reason to make a change to the election constituencies as the EC has already completed all of the work. Has this order been created to appease any particular party?" he said.
Meanwhile, the New Alternative Party (Newa) is calling on the NCPO to lift its ban prohibiting parties from engaging in political activities if the poll is postponed.
Party leader Rachen Trakulwiang said Newa is ready to field election candidates but is currently hamstrung by the ban.
If the election takes place on Feb 24 as scheduled, the regime must create a level field for all political parties, he said, adding the EC should delay the poll by another 30 days.
